Voice Studio

MaryBeth D. Smith, MM, GCFP

MaryBeth Smith maintains a voice studio in Houston, Texas, specializing in vocal health and sustainability. Repertoire and audition preparation are not the focus of the study, as in traditional voice teaching. Rather, she works with those physical and technical issues that are beyond the scope of regular studio work.

Several areas of specialization and interest have emerged from her years of practice with people from all walks of life.

Singers in any musical genre who fail to progress due to excessive muscular tension, pain, breathing difficulties, or posture and coordination challenges.

Broadcasters or business people who seek to improve their vocal function and effect.

Transgender individuals who wish to develop voice and movement that is in alignment with who they are.

Conveniently located near the Galleria, Heights, Garden Oaks/Oak Forest, at the 290/West Loop 610 interchange, lesson times are available by appointment. She also offers vocal coaching for singers and speakers located outside of Houston, or those with transportation difficulties, via Skype or Google Hangouts.

The Learning Process

“Lessons are tailored to your interests and goals. I am a collaborative teacher, coach, and guide, rather than an old-school autocrat! I view each student as a whole person, and proceed with respect, honesty, and gentle humor. The basics of good voice for any purpose include breath management, tone development, resonance, projection, and practice of vocal material, whether sung or spoken words. Instead of diagnosing faults, I want to find what works well and build upon it. I emphasize vocal health and well-being, as well as developing sensation and body awareness through the Feldenkrais Method®.”

Bio

MaryBeth Davison Smith, soprano, holds degrees from the University of Illinois and the University of Texas at San Antonio. She was a member of the voice faculty in the School of Music at Texas State University – San Marcos from 1991 to 2002. She has made numerous presentations at the Texas Music Educators Association conventions in the Vocal and College divisions, as well as at the Texoma Regional Conventions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She is a nationally recognized authority on natural performance improvement.

Having retired from performing with a distinguished national reputation in concert, recital, and staged works, Smith continues to be in demand as a clinician and adjudicator. She keeps a busy schedule working with university opera workshops, teacher inservice presentations for fine arts faculties in major Texas school districts, choral clinics, master classes, and music festivals. Her skills as a master teacher have been recognized by artist-in-residence appointments at the Crane School of Music, Marywood University, and Trinity College, London. Her students have been accepted to the National Music Camp at Interlochen, MI, and to prestigious undergraduate and graduate programs, including the Eastman School, Peabody Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory, Louisiana State University, Vanderbilt University, and Southern Methodist University. Locally, her students sing with Houston Grand Opera Chorus, HGO Opera To Go, Houston Symphony Chorus, the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and with numerous church choirs and community theater groups.

MaryBeth Smith is also accredited as a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, teaching Awareness Through Movement and Functional Integration lessons, classes, and workshops in Houston and throughout the region. She is a member of the teaching faculty at the Jung Center, and has written extensively about human performance improvement and the Feldenkrais Method.

Jane Brody, New York Times 10/31/2017

"I had long refrained from writing about this method of countering pain because I thought it was some sort of New Age gobbledygook with no scientific basis. Boy, was I wrong!" Click image to read the full article.

Featured in Houstonia Magazine, March 2017

Our Awareness Through Movement(R) class at the Jung Center was named one of Houston's best continuing ed classes in Houstonia Magazine. Read the article here.

Feldenkrais Method in US News & World Report

The Feldenkrais Center of Houston and MaryBeth Smith were mentioned in this article from 11/14/2016. Click image to find out more!

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The Fine Print

Copyright 2018 MaryBeth Davison Smith. All rights reserved.

Feldenkrais®, Feldenkrais Method®, Awareness Through Movement®, Functional Integration®, are registered service marks of the FELDENKRAIS GUILD® of North America.
Feldenkrais® photos by Rosalie O'Connor. Other photos used by permission.